Ex-Gator Hornsby accepts plea deal

Tuesday

Dec 16, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Michael DiRocco

Former Florida football player Jamar Hornsby on Monday pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor counts of improper use of a credit card and was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution and court costs.Hornsby, a former Sandalwood High School standout, was arrested by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office in May on felony charges that he made nearly 70 fraudulent charges on the gas credit card of a female UF student who died alongside a walk-on football player in a motorcycle accident in October 2007. In August, the state attorney's office in Gainesville filed four misdemeanor charges of unauthorized use of a credit card.According to a plea agreement, Hornsby will have a year of unsupervised probation and must pay restitution in the amount of $5,367.68 to the family of former UF student Ashley E. Slonina, who died Oct. 12, 2007, in the motorcycle accident. He also was ordered to pay $2,969.67 to Panhandle Engineering, the business owned by Slonina's father and under which the credit card was issued, and $840.10 to Tamara Smith to resolve a previous case.The money paid to Smith is for repairs to her car, which was damaged during a fight involving Hornsby and another man in April 2007. Hornsby had agreed to an 18-month deferred prosecution, which was to expire in April 2009.Hornsby also must pay $400 to $500 in court costs and $50 in prosecution costs.Judge Victor L. Hulslander also ordered Hornsby to tour the state prison at Raiford and write an essay about his experience.Hornsby has already paid the money he owes to Panhandle Engineering."I think the resolution of the case is consistent of what the courts would do in a similar case," state attorney Bill Cervone said. "I hope that the defendant understands the harm he's created that goes far beyond just using somebody's credit card under these circumstances."Hornsby could face up to four years in county jail - one year for each count - if he fails to comply with the conditions of his plea bargain.Slonina's parents, Rosemary and James Henry, read statements to the court before Hulslander imposed his sentence.Rosemary Slonina called Hornsby "cold-hearted and heartless, callous, insensitive and cruel," then further attacked his character."He intentionally used her financially after she was no longer living," she said. "What kind of person would do this? Didn't the University of Florida give him enough? I'm starting to believe that some young people have no moral conscience. Mr. Hornsby has demonstrated this by his actions. He disrespected, dishonored, humiliated and disgraced Ashley's death and memory."... Doesn't Mr. Hornsby have any morals? How could he stoop so low?"James Slonina said they noticed charges appearing on his daughter's credit card shortly after her death and hired a private investigator. Slonina called the investigation a "six-month reign of terror," because it impeded his family's grieving process."These crimes were far more emotionally damaging than stealing the money," he said. "These crimes did not create the wound of losing our daughter, but are the salt in the raw wound that has created so much additional pain and so complicated our family's grief."Hornsby's attorney, Huntley Johnson, read a letter of apology that Hornsby had written to the court. In it, Hornsby said he regretted his mistake and called Ashley Slonina a "very kind and loving friend." Hornsby declined to comment after the hearing.Johnson said Hulslander's order of a tour of Raiford and essay - both of which have to be completed within 90 days - was a surprise, but a good idea."I don't think it hurts anybody who's had an interaction with the criminal defense system to go up and see what it's like up there," Johnson said. "I've been up there many, many, many times, and it's horrendous."Following the sentencing, James Slonina said the family was glad the ordeal was over."Today was a day of closure for this chapter with us," he said. "Are we satisfied with what happened? If it changes him into a better person, absolutely. "Hornsby, a defensive back, was dismissed from the UF football team after his arrest. He played in eight games in 2007, missing five because of a university suspension for selling his complimentary tickets.He played this past season at East Mississippi Junior College, where he earned NJCAA second-team All-America honors, and has verbally committed to continue his football career at Ole Miss.michael.dirocco@jacksonville.com,(904) 359-4500

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Advertising

Stay Connected

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Florida Times-Union ~ 1 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32202 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service